Hamburger Dazzles In Complete Game As Saints End Saltdogs 12-Game Home Win Streak, 2-1

ST. PAUL, MNAugust 1, 2017

Coming off one of his shortest starts in his St. Paul Saints career, Mark Hamburger got the ball on just three days rest. He made sure Tuesday night, at Haymarket Park, no one was taking the ball out of his hands. For a league leading fifth time this season Hamburger went the distance as the Saints snapped the Lincoln Saltdogs franchise tying 12-game home winning streak with a 2-1 victory.

Hamburger pitched around mini jams all night. In the first he gave up a two-out double to Cesar Valera, but got Curt Smith on a ground out to end the inning.

In the third Ivan Marin reached on a bunt single, stole second and, with two outs, Hamburger walked Valera. For the second straight time, however, Smith would end the inning on a fly out to right.

In the fourth Hamburger gave up a one out double to Nathaniel Maggio, but Brandon Jacobs popped out to short and Randolph Oduber flew out to center to end the inning.

The biggest jam came in the fifth when Marin singled with one out and Matty Johnson moved him to third with a single to right-center. Hamburger, however, got the .328 hitting Valera to ground into an inning ending double play.

In the eighth Valera singled with two outs and Smith walked, but Hamburger retired Tommy Mendonca with a fly out to left to end the inning.

Hamburger was one out away from his fifth complete game shutout of his career, but Oduber hit a two-out solo homer to left, his 12th of the season. Hamburger bounced back and got Dashenko Ricardo to line out to right to end the game. Hamburger went 9.0 innings allowing one run on nine hits while walking two and striking out one. He threw 123 pitches, 80 for strikes. The complete game was the 17th of his Saints career in 57 starts.

The Saints faced an equally tough starter in former Major Leaguer Shairon Martis. They had a couple of chances early loading the bases in the third when Maxx Garrett walked, Jon Kristoffersen reached on a fielder’s choice when his sacrifice bunt was fielded, but the throw to second to get Garrett was too late. With two outs Nate Hanson walked, but Anthony Gallas grounded out to end the inning.

In the fourth Kes Carter singled to right and he moved to second on a one out single by JJ Gould. Garrett and Kristoffersen, however, would strike out to end the inning.

In the sixth the Saints finally broke through when Carter led off with a double down the right field line. Mitch Delfino followed with an RBI single to center giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.

It stayed that way until the ninth when the Saints got what proved to be a monumental insurance run. Facing closer Michael Wagner, Tim Colwell led off with a walk. Breland Almadova sacrificed him to second. Nate Hanson, who earlier in the game extended his hitting streak to a career tying high 13, hit a grounder to short. Marin’s throw to third to get Almadova was too late. Gallas followed with his first hit of the series, an RBI single to left to make it 2-0.

The Saints have Wednesday off and are back home on Thursday night to begin a four game series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at 7:05 p.m. It is Super Hero Night presented by Hamline University. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in and around the Twin Cities, and heard on Club 1220 KLBB.